Monday, November 10, 2008

The Art of CVS-ing

How to master the art of CVS shopping:
  1. Apply in store or online for a CVS ExtraCare card. If you apply online, you have to wait for CVS to mail the card, which can take up to two weeks. If you apply in the store, make sure you go online and register your card to your email address so you can get "special" savings.
  2. Next, scan through the weekly sales ad and find what you need (or want). I do a quick run through first, paying special attention to anything with the "free after extra bucks" notation and the items that earn extra bucks. They will stand out in the ad, as they have a yellow rectangle indicating the price.
  3. Then, I flip through my coupon list to see if I have any manufacturer's coupons that I can match to the items I have selected.
  4. Next, I plan out my trip. This requires me to simply jot down what items I'm planning to purchase, what coupons I have, how many ECBs I will use, and what I should earn back.
    Having this sort of plan is very important. This way, if your cashier makes a mistake or something doesn't ring up correctly, you don't have to make a trip back to the store. It also allows you to get in and out in a minimal amount of time.
  5. Work your magic.
  6. ExtraCare Bucks, or ECBs, will print out at the end of your sale. These are just like cash, so store them in a safe place! And don't forget to use them. They expire 4 weeks from the date they're issued. You also earn 2% back on all purchases. This is issued quarterly.
Here's how I conduct my transactions:
  • Allow cashier to ring up all products.
  • Submit all CVS coupons (ex: $5 off $25 purchase).
  • Submit all manufacturer's coupons.
  • Submit any ECBs that I have.
  • Pay for remainder and collect earned ECBs.
I hope this will help you master the art of CVS-ing.

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